'Anti-Gay' Morgan State Radio Host to Return

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'Anti-Gay' Morgan State Radio Host to Return

By Robert "Rob" Redding Jr.

Editor & Publisher

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2005, 4:30 p.m. - A Morgan State radio host, who made anti-gay remarks on air and at a rally, is scheduled to return to his Sunday program before the end of the month, a university spokesman said.

"[Rev. Duane Johnson] will not be on the air for another week and is expected to return on the 20th," said Clinton Coleman, public relations director for the university.

Coleman said Johnson, a part time employee at WEAA-FM, has been on paid leave since he was removed from the Baltimore station on Oct. 23.

His removal - first reported by Redding News Review - came after Equality Maryland, a gay rights group, asked its members to complain to the university's radio station about the show and its supporters assailing the gay lifestyle and leading a march at a local school in mid-October.

"I was just trying to inform parents about what was going on," Johnson told The Washington Blade, a gay newspaper. "An anti-gay activist, a gay basher - that's not who I am."

Dan Furmansky, executive director for Equality Maryland, said "hopefully this won't happen again in the future."

Meredith Moise, field organizer for the group, agreed.

"We hope that Mr. Johnson would refrain from anti-gay hate filled speech and we hope that he sticks to playing gospel music," she said.

Coleman has said Johnson should have used a disclaimer, separating his views from the station. He said station employees have been given a memorandum stating that disclaimers should be used.

WEAA is a "Redding News Review - The Show" affiliate.